Noordam currently 4.5 hours late leaving Napier

[Just_a_cruiser]

Good luck to you all. Thank you for letting us know what is happening.

Edited April 3, 2016 by Just_a_cruiser

[erewhon]

It is currently 9.23am and we are still tied up at Napier. At 8.00am the Captain announced that they knew what the problem was as they had worked all night in conjunction with the makers of the Azipod in Finland and the user manual.

 

It was discovered that it had been assembled incorrectly at some time (maybe maintenance - I missed that bit) and had it was now damaged. The new parts required were onboard the ship and they would be working to repair it.

 

Thr Captain has made the decision to spend the day in Napier again and all aboard is at 4.00pm. Free shuttle buses have again be provided.

 

We will arrive in Tauranga at 10.00am tomorrow and the On Location team are working to rearrange excursions in Tauranga tomorrow and Auckland on Tuesday.

 

We were originally going to be anchored at the Bay of Islands on Tuesday for half a day. I imagine that port will be missed now. We have two sea days - Wednesday and Thursday to return to Sydney.

 

I am running out of internet time - I am just cutting and pasting this, so I don't know if anyone else has posted. Fingers crossed.

 

Sorry to hear of the Azipod problem.

Did you find something to do during your extra time in Napier?

Is the Captain Peter Bos?

[lucymorgan]

I just dropped in here to find out what happened as we were on the auckland hoho bus today (we are not on a cruise) and on our last bus I heard the radio dispatcher telling the driver that the latest on the 'ship' was that the ship wasn't coming in at all.

The drivers are disappointed I think as they were discussing who would and who wouldn't work tomorrow - fewer drivers needed now.

 

On the Auckland port site this morning the Noordam was listed and now it isn't.

Sorry to hear that you are missing this port.

Edited April 3, 2016 by jenibor

[Tumbleweedjim]

Finally news, bad as it is. We will sail tonight, to Topanga, and then to Sydney, skipping both Auckland and the (reportedly stunningly beautiful) Bay of Islands. That was on the intercom, so I didn't get all the details, but don't think there was any mention of covering our costs for cancelled excursions or compensation for cutting the cruise short so we can return directly to Sydney.

We are just now moving.

[SLOTheta]

I'm glad to hear you are moving. It's too and communication on the ship wasn't very good. People typically don't mind delays, as long as they are kept informed

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

[Btimmer]

Glad to hear you are underway. Sorry to hear you are missing a couple really nice stops.

 

Last year on the final voyage of the Statendam, one of the main engines was damaged after Hawaii in the Marshall Islands and we sailed for something over 1,000 miles at a reduced speed on one main engine to Guam missing one stop at TRUK. It was definitely comforting after GUAM to feel the increased speed that night.

Edited April 3, 2016 by Btimmer

[erewhon]

Finally news, bad as it is. We will sail tonight, to Topanga, and then to Sydney, skipping both Auckland and the (reportedly stunningly beautiful) Bay of Islands. That was on the intercom, so I didn't get all the details, but don't think there was any mention of covering our costs for cancelled excursions or compensation for cutting the cruise short so we can return directly to Sydney.

We are just now moving.

 

Pleased that you are underway.

HAL should reimburse any HAL shore excursions that you booked and have missed.

Hope the remainder of your cruise is trouble free.

Enjoy your day in Mount Maunganui (Tauranga).

[Lis2065]

Sad that you missing Auckland and the Bay of Islands - both good ports. I suggest checking your travel insurance for the excursions and missed ports - you may very well be covered.

[RuthC]

...I didn't get all the details, but don't think there was any mention of covering our costs for cancelled excursions or compensation for cutting the cruise short so we can return directly to Sydney.

You will be reimbursed for all HAL tours. You will also be reimbursed port charges for missed ports.

Unless you are arriving back in Sydney a day early, your cruise hasn't been cut short---you are still on the ship for the same number of days, so there's nothing to be reimbursed there.

 

Oh, and you will probably be offered a glass of swill at dinner to help dull the pain of missing a really great port.

[teamflames]

You will be reimbursed for all HAL tours. You will also be reimbursed port charges for missed ports.

 

Unless you are arriving back in Sydney a day early, your cruise hasn't been cut short---you are still on the ship for the same number of days, so there's nothing to be reimbursed there.

 

 

 

Oh, and you will probably be offered a glass of swill at dinner to help dull the pain of missing a really great port.

 

 

 

I thought you took a swill of plonk? [emoji12]

[Ferry Beach Kayaker]

Not sure of exact situation in Napier, but just an FYI, lack of announcements is sometimes regulated by local authorities and HAL cannot always update passengers continually. On my recent cruise on Noordam from Sydney White Bay terminal, it was announced at boarding that sailing would be delayed until 1030pm. Well, that time came and went with no updates and we sailed at 300am or so. The next day, the captain apologized, stating that they are only allowed to make announcements for muster drill. It is a residential area, and they cannot broadcast shipwide announcements at any other time. This could be the case in Napier. However, front desk should be updated by captain and bridge and be able to give updated info.

 

In Sydney on our Sydney to Auckland cruise, the captain on Feb 27 did come in to the evening show to tell us that we wouldn't be leaving to after 2 a.m. (we were initially to leave around 4p.m. which was pushed back to 9 p.m. then to after 2 a.m.) and that he came into the show because he couldn't use the PA system in White Bay because of a noise abatement ruling. The Noordam had one of their thruster's repaired and scuba divers was actually reattaching it to the ship in Sydney and went with the ship to finish the job in Melbourne. I hope they get the problem fixed since the next cruise is a Trans Pacific.

Edited April 3, 2016 by Ferry Beach Kayaker

[MMDown Under]

Finally news, bad as it is. We will sail tonight, to Topanga, and then to Sydney, skipping both Auckland and the (reportedly stunningly beautiful) Bay of Islands. That was on the intercom, so I didn't get all the details, but don't think there was any mention of covering our costs for cancelled excursions or compensation for cutting the cruise short so we can return directly to Sydney.

We are just now moving.

 

So sorry to hear that your ports of call in Auckland and the beautiful Bay of Islands have been cancelled. I can understand your disappointment. I am sure you will be compensated due to the mechanical problem.

 

There is no excuse for the lack of communication and keeping passengers informed.

 

I hope you enjoy your visit to Tauranga.

[rafinmd]

Just as an aside, the Carnival Pride which I believe is a modified Vista is having Pod problems and still an hour away from her Sunday morning arrival in Baltimore. Lot of azipod problems lately.

 

Roy

[PatsyAnne]

Just as an aside, the Carnival Pride which I believe is a modified Vista is having Pod problems and still an hour away from her Sunday morning arrival in Baltimore. Lot of azipod problems lately.

 

 

 

Roy

 

 

Spring fever?

[highcees]

Thinking of all of you who were frustrated and inconvenienced in this extraordinary way. We will follow your wake in September when Noordam flips back to the South after spending the summer in Alaska, and since we will be on board for 40+ days, let's hope this isn't a regular occurrence. VERY reluctant to make shore experience arrangements that are non-refundable with a business model that treats "guests" (clients?) in such an offhand, non-transparent manner. It really hasn't been the case in the past during our times on board a HAL ship. Fingers crossed that this all gets made up to you (free drinks! free internet!! free flight home!!!) if even as nothing more than a common-sense gesture of good will.

[Stratheden]

We have been offered 20% off the value of the current cruise off a new cruise, plus some OBC. We haven't miss any days on the ship so we are quite happy with that.

 

Some folk aren't as you can imagine. All sorts of mutterings and mumblings.

[RuthC]

We have been offered 20% off the value of the current cruise off a new cruise, plus some OBC. We haven't miss any days on the ship so we are quite happy with that.

 

Some folk aren't as you can imagine. All sorts of mutterings and mumblings.

Very generous! Thanks for letting us know.

[ozcruizer]

We were on the Volendam a day before reaching Singapore in 2012 when there was a propeller problem. We stopped with no airconditioning or lighting and were just drifting although we may have been anchored. However, we were kept informed the whole time as to what was happening and fortunately we were on our way in 2-3 hours. There were two captains during the cruise and one was Peter Bos but I'm not sure whether he left the ship in Singapore or joined it there for the voyage to HK.

[jmps]

We have been offered 20% off the value of the current cruise off a new cruise, plus some OBC. We haven't miss any days on the ship so we are quite happy with that.

 

Some folk aren't as you can imagine. All sorts of mutterings and mumblings.

 

Thanks for the update. This seems fair to me. Things happen. I am sure there are some people that would want a refund if it rained during their cruise.

 

I hope your return to Sydney is smooth across the Tasman Sea.

[Sunny Jim Bob]

I hear your ship did make it to the Bay of Islands after all today - is this true??

[Jade13]

Finally news, bad as it is. We will sail tonight, to Topanga, and then to Sydney, skipping both Auckland and the (reportedly stunningly beautiful) Bay of Islands. That was on the intercom, so I didn't get all the details, but don't think there was any mention of covering our costs for cancelled excursions or compensation for cutting the cruise short so we can return directly to Sydney.

 

We are just now moving.

 

 

This was terrible communications. Communications 101 would be to tell passengers in a reasonable amount of time, not the next day, what is going on. One wouldn't know if there was a mechanical issue or medical emergency.

 

Who is the Captain?

 

We were on Azamara Journey in 2011 and announcement made at 11:30pm that we were skipping Ashod Israel the next day due to gunfire over Gaza. We did go direct to Haifa and I know they allowed passengers to make free phone calls as needed to private tour guides, etc. I used my free internet to contact our private tour guide who met us in Haifa to take us to Jerusalem.

 

In 2010 we were on Maasdam Canada New England when in day 3 after leaving PEI, Captain announced we were skipping the rest of the ports and going directly to Boston due to the hurricane Earl warning. He than had an entire presentation on hurricanes in the theatre that evening to give a lesson/explanation on hurricanes and why decision was made.

 

Last fall we were on Celebrity Millennium and she was scheduled to arrive about an hour late into one of the ports. They actually announced they were opening up free internet (but you had to go to the Internet center) and anyone could come down to the front desk if they needed to call a private tour guide to let them know they would be arriving late. We used the free phone call and than a second call to tell them we were actually arriving on time. Now that is fantastic customer service on a mass market cruise line.

 

HAL's customer service was handled poorly. How many hours went by until they even told guests there was a mechanical problem, even if they did not know the exact cause? And why is anyone on here saying they just used up their internet? It doesn't sound like HAL offered free phone calls or internet to rearrange tours or call family members.

 

Sorry you had to miss Bay of Islands which was one of our favorite ports. We were there on Celebrity Solstice in 2014 where I arranged a private 60 plus foot yacht for a group of 20 and we went sailing for the day.

 

I expect you will eventually be offered a percentage discount off of what you paid on this cruise on another cruise. HAL makes sure any offer is contingent on booking another cruise. This is totally their fault. This was still handled poorly.

Edited April 5, 2016 by Jade13

[Jade13]

Very generous! Thanks for letting us know.

 

 

It was reasonable since this was a mechanical issue with the ship and not an act of nature.

 

We received 25% of what we paid on a future cruise when we missed three ports on Maasdam in 2010 due to a hurricane warning (which never materialized on our route). The timing was such that the cruise essentially ended since the ship went directly to the last port where everything had to be shut down (casino, shops) and pools emptied. This wasn't HALs fault, but the mechanical breakdown in New Zealand was on the cruiseline. Most/many insurance policies will not cover missed ports / canceled excursions that were pre-paid if they find out it was a mechanical problem.

[Jade13]

. VERY reluctant to make shore experience arrangement that are non-refundable with a business model that treats "guests" (clients?) in such an offhand, non-transparent manner. .

 

 

The travel insurance that we use does cover costs associated with "missed connection's", which include excursions in ports if the port is missed. But I don't think they would cover if they know it was a mechanical issue with the ship.

 

We did have to pre pay for our excursion in Bay of Islands since we chartered a Yacht (over$2,000..00 New Zealand), but we were able to pay individually by credit card. I wouldn't let a risk of approx $100.00 per person (this excursion was less than that) deter me from booking a private excursion (especially one that the ship does not offer), but if I received a denial from the insurance company I would go after HAL to cover the cost since it was their ship's mechanical issue, and regardless of whether they offered a discount on a future cruise. I believe I would eventually get a refund (may possibly also have coverage through ones credit card used for payment).

Edited April 5, 2016 by Jade13

[jmps]

Every private tour I have ever booked has a policy to refund any pre-payments if the ship misses the port. It is a good question to ask prior to booking.

 

We were on the Noordam on its previous cruise to this one and ran into people off a Royal ship that missed Tuaranga the previous day due to weather. The private tour company refunded for passengers and met some in Auckland to bring them to Rotorua (a several hour drive) for those that wanted that option. That was handling clients well.

[utahtea]

I hear your ship did make it to the Bay of Islands after all today - is this true??

 

I'm reading a private live blog from this cruise on the Noordam and there was no mention of making it to Bay of Islands. After Tauranga, New Zealand they had a sea day and only talked about seeing the last of New Zealand and were heading into the Tasman Sea west to Sydney mid-afternoon.

 

Utahtea